ASTON Martin is set to extend its sports car range with the introduction of a third model - and the company is likely to need a new factory to build it. In an interview at the North American Auto Show in Detroit, chairman Wolfgang Reitzle revealed the new car would be positioned as an added challenger to Porsche models and could take the Midlands firm's annual output to 3,000 units.

'We have to finance three models and a new factory - we need a new factory and we are 99% sure that we have a site,' said Reitzle. He declined to give further details, but added: 'We will know in three to four months.' A team of engineering and finance experts is studying the business case for the car and will soon be handing over their findings to Reitzle.

Ford, which acquired the company for an estimated £20 million in 1987, has invested heavily in improving facilities, enhancing the product line-up and integrating the Newport Pagnell and Bloxham factories. Aston's annual volume is 700 units and the 3,000th example of the DB7 has just been delivered to a customer in the US, where supplies of the Vantage version are sold out to the end of June.